Paraguayan Petigrain
Note Profile
About
Paraguayan Petitgrain is the steam-distilled leaf and twig oil of the bitter orange tree grown in Paraguay, which supplies about 70% of the world's perfumery-grade petitgrain. It is the freshest and most floral of the petitgrain origins, greener and lighter than the Italian bigarade. Its bitterness is the working part of it and perfumers use it deliberately.
Scent Profile
A sharp bitter-green burst of crushed orange leaf and twig over a fresh citrus lift, with a real floral heart that reads as orange blossom, drier and more linear than the flower itself. Underneath it is woody-herbaceous, with a soft sweet finish and a clean, slightly musky dryness.
ScentWheel
Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.
Origin
Citrus aurantium var. amara, leaves and twigs, steam distilled at source in Paraguay. Distillation there dates to 1876 and is still largely artisanal, run through micro-distilleries and rented stills. The oil is colourless to pale yellow, unlike the dark green Italian bigarade.
Usage in Perfumery
A cologne staple and the classic bridge between a citrus top and a woody base. Perfumers use it to add dryness to white florals, to stop a sweet accord going cloying, and as a cheaper stand-in for neroli. It is also used across functional perfumery for its diffusion.
Similar Notes
Perfumes featuring Paraguayan Petigrain
A selection of reviewed perfumes where Paraguayan Petigrain appears prominently.
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